24. Did you suffer any injuries prior to,
during or after ejection and what were they caused
by?--No

25. Did you experience temporal
distortion where time appears to extend? If Yes
could you briefly describe the sensation--No

26. did you in your ejection experiences
ever have what several pilots told me – a sensation
that they were outside of their aircraft witnessing
the events as they unfolded – I suppose what would
be called by some as an “out of body experience” –
or have you ever spoken to other ejectees who
mentioned such a phenomenon?--No

27. What ejection seat make / mark did
you use and do you know type of parachute used?
(e.g. Martin-Baker GRU-5, Irvin 1-24)--B- Seat
enjection seat

28. “Could you please give a running
account of the episode, including events leading to
the incident (omit any information you consider
inappropriate or classified), aircraft damage,
events prior to ejection, any communications,
ejection factors, descent and survival.”

(Note: This question is based on one from an
official USN form – AVIATION COMBAT CASUALTY and I
can find no better way of asking the question. (any
information “for background information only” should
be clearly marked and will be treated as such)–
Write this answer in whichever way you feel best
suits you – one French Test Parachutist gave me
details of the waiting around, smoking, having cups
of coffee, what he ate before the test, the place he
had the meal, the weather, the atmosphere, his
feelings of apprehension not fear. Then the getting
ready for the flight, the getting into the aircraft,
the take-off the flying around, the countdown, the
ejection and how time stretched, how he remembered
his thoughts and how his body felt. Another pilot
told me of the parachute descent and the landing,
who reached him, their and his reaction, another
told me of knowing he’d hit the airstream at too
high a speed and his subsequent injuries – there is
no one correct way to answer this. It is a highly
subjective question and highly subjective answers
are appreciated. Many of the best quotes I have on
record come from these memories. Answer this
question how you feel best.

If you would prefer to audio tape this instead
please let me know and I will forward you a blank
cassette. All I ask if you do tape your memories is
to SPELL out names and places so I can be accurate
in typing them. Please also indicate any Callsigns
or acronyms used. I know quite a lot through my
researches over the years but I’d be happier if you
assume I know nothing and explain them)

29. Do you have any photographs of
yourself around the period of your ejection and now
(a then and now to give a historic perspective
within the file) that I can obtain quality copies
of (if scanned at least 300 dpi)?--No

30. Ditto your aircraft before, and if
possible after the ejection.

31. Do you have xeroxes of any
documentation concerning your ejection that I could
have copies of – reports – newspaper clippings –
magazine articles – commendations – etc.

32. Do you have any information as to any
other ejection or ejectee?

33. Was this your only ejection? If no
could you please fill out a similar form for each
ejection?--Yes

34. Do you know if your ejection caused
any alteration to either the system or amendments to
the safety training procedures?--No

On my bail out on April12,1963, I was flying a
test hop after an engine change, The engine flamed out and after numerous
attempts to restart the engine, I could never obtain any fuel flow tho I had
4500# of fuel remaining. Gliding at 250 knots and reaching @ 3000', I had to
eject. I was heading towards a lake later known as Long Lake-near Grand Rapids,
Michigan. The B seat ejection system was a complicated ejection seat designed
for high speed bailout, where approximately 22 iniators had to perform.We wore
spurs, attached to our feet with cables that would pull your legs into the seat.
I had used the ejection ring handle, located between my legs (rather than the
one above the head). I had a moment where I thought the process had failed and
then a few seconds later, the canopy seperated, the seat travelled to the top of
the cockpit, where it then rotated me on to a back position (the seat had the
design of looking like a bob sled for the high speed ejection) and then two
rockets fired off. There also are two stabilizing rods that extend from the
seat, tho only one extended properly, thus sending me into somewhat of a skid.
Following this ride the seat has another iniator which started what is called
the butt snapper. The risers under the seat kick you out of the seat and if
under a certain altitude, automatically unlocks your seat belt and then deploys
your parachute. This all occurred as advertised. I had no injuries except the
back of my head was singed from the rockets firing and being slung sideways when
the stabilizing rods didn't extend properly. I was told that I was the 7th pilot
to survive a B seat ejection tho not sure if thats accurate. Some time later, a
pilot in Maine attempted to eject from a F-106 and the seat failed. He was able
to crash land the aircraft in a potato field and survived. The Air Defense
Command after that accident decided to do away with the B seat and reverted back
to a normal type ejection system. After ejecting,the aircraft turned and crashed
into a field,exploding. Parts of the wheel assembly hit the side of a nearby
home where two children were on a couch watching TV. They had drapes pulled to
darken the room. They were knocked off the couch but were not injured. We
were fortunate that no one was hurt. Sometime later I received a very nice
letter from their mother . We all thanked God that the event turned out well.